The insult was fired at a female TD, Sinn Fein’s Imelda Munster, who represents County Louth.

Mr Ross said some of her party colleagues were like “thoroughbred horses” compared to her.

He said that instead, she was “like a donkey in the last race at the last fence”.

Independent Alliance Minister Mr Ross was jeered by the opposition after the remark, which was made during a Dail debate on whether special Green Cards for insurance will be required for Republic of Ireland drivers to drive in the North - and vice versa.

Mr Ross took up where he had left off the night before with Ms Munster in their debate.